Improvement in commodes or stands



FREDERICK MAHLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMMODES OR STANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,743, dated July 20, 1875; application filed May 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MAHLER, of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oommodes or Stands; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical cross-section. Fig. 2 is a rear sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a diagram, showing the method of locking the standard down.

My invention relates to a commode or stand having an adjustable top; and consists of a fastening device of peculiar construction for locking the adjusting-standard of the movable top in place, as will be more fully set forth.

Ais a commode or stand of usual form, having a door, a, and a front drawer, b. B is the movable top, attached to the standardframe 0, which slides up and down vertically in a groove or slot, D, in the rear part of the commode. The top B has a fixed leaf, H, and a hinged leaf, H, and it also has on the rear side a drawer, I, which holds two hinged bookracks, K K, which fold together within the drawer when closed. ()ne edge of the standard has a ratchet, E, Fig. 2, the teeth of which point downward, and with this engages a spring-catch, G, let into the wood of the out side casing. The action is such that, as the standard is raised, the catch retains it at any given position, and prevents falling by striking into the teeth. There is a device connected with the ratchet and catch for locking the standard down. At the bottom of the upper tooth of the ratchet is a square offset or shoulder, cl, Fig. 3, which projects from the tooth. The lower end of the spring-catch is made square, as shown at f. When the stand ard is fully lowered, the end of the catch strikes into the ratchet above the offset, and prevents the standard from being raised. The spring-catch has a fixed screw, g, which projects out through the side of the casing, and on this screws a nut, h. By turning the nut up, the catch can be drawn out and gaged to such an extent as to hold the standard at any height by engaging with the ratchet-teeth, but not to engage with the offset d in the reverse motion. By unscrewing the not the catch will spring inward sufficiently to engage with the offset, as before described. This is a convenient arrangement for allowing adjustment of the standard, and still looking it in place when desired.

I claim The combination, with the ratchet E and catch G, of the square offset or shoulder d, screw g, and nut h of the catch, as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK MAHLER.

Witnesses:

PATRICK MOINTYRE, R. F. Oseoon. 

